Jefferson Airplane founding member Paul Kantner has died at the age of 74.
The late singer-and-guitarist for the American 60s rock group died on Thursday (28.01.16) from multiple organ failure and septic shock, following a heart attack earlier this week.
His passing has been confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper by his long-time publicist and friend Cynthia Bowman.
Jefferson Airplane formed in San Francisco in 1965 and were pioneers of psychedelic rock, developing a sound with heavy reverb and fuzzy guitars.
Within months of getting together the band had several hits including the classic ‘Somebody To Love’ and ‘White Rabbit’.
Their back catalogue consists of seven records including, five gold classified albums such as 1968’s ‘Crown of Creation’ LP.
The band have had several line-up changes over the years with more than 14 different band members.
Jefferson were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and their performance at the ceremony was the first time original members Marty Balin, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Spencer Dryden and Kantner had played together since 1970.
The surviving members of The Doors – Robby Krieger and
John Densmore – have been among the first people to pay tribute to Paul and insist "music wouldn’t be the same" without his influence on the rock scene.
Taking to their Facebook page, the pair wrote: "Our condolences go out to the friends, family and fans of Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane on the news of his passing. Music would not be the same without the sounds of The Doors and Jefferson Airplane, which both contributed so heavily to the signature sound of the 60s and 70s. They often shared the same bill. Celebrate them with this article of the bands’ shows together in England in 1968 (sic)."
David Crosby – of Crosby, Stills & Nash – wrote on Twitter: "Paul Kantner was my friend, roommate, pal..we wrote Wooden Ships together with Stephen I’m going to miss him (sic)"
Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner dies
